PENSIONERS are missing out on thousands of pounds by failing to claim their full State Benefits entitlement, new research has found.

Pensioner households are short-changing themselves by £1,058 a year on average, with around half, or 49 percent, failing to claim anything at all, according to figures by Just Grouo. A further two in 10, or 20 percent, are missing out on an average £855 a year by claiming but receiving too little. Stephen Lowe, group communications director at Just Group, said: “Once again we have found that too many people are missing out on claiming their full benefits with the average annual loss of £1,058 a year, the highest for five years. “These are meaningful sums of money that would make a real difference to people’s lives, especially for those struggling to pay everyday living costs.”